Gateway’s defense stopped a two-point conversion with under two minutes remaining to lead the Panthers to a 13-12 win over Lake Minneola in its first season-opening win since 2022.
Behind the running of Nydrell Thigpen, the Panthers did enough offensively to win the game, but it was its defense that really paved the way.
Trailing 6-0 after a tipped pass on the second play of the game resulted in a 55-yard touchdown reception by Erik Moore, the Hawks were back in business one series later after a blocked punt gave them a first down on the Gateway 32. After gaining a first down on the Panther 4, defensive lineman Tavian Martin came up with a huge sack and three plays later the defense forced a turnover on downs.
Thigpen, who finished the game with 158 yards rushing, gave the Panthers their first lead on an 8-yard run at the 2:39 mark of second quarter. He was also instrumental on the touchdown drive with 44 yards rushing; while QB Aristotle Span Jr. came up with a big play on a 30-yard pass completion to Johnny Reyes II.
An Honor Kim interception kept Gateway up, 7-6, at the half.
Gateway upped the lead to 13-6 following a fumble recovery off an errant snap. Span scored on a 3-yard run but it was the tough running of Thigpen (4-41) that set up the score.
From there, the Panthers made the second of two goal-line stands in the game. Lake Minneola worked the ball down to the Panther 5, but four straight running plays by Jamar Collins netted just three yards and the Gateway took over on downs.
The job the Panther defense did on the junior running back was particularly impressive. Collins, who gained 165 yards in a season opening win, had 38 yards after just six carries on Friday but was limited to just three more yards on his final 12 attempts of the game.
Still, the Panthers had to sweat out the win. Taking over on his own 15 with just over five minutes to go, Hawks quarterback Gianni Bazrotti was able to covert two fourth-down plays – including a 12-yard scramble to keep a potential game-winning drive alive.
He completed a quick 12-yard hitch to Moore and then find his his receiver open in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown that cut the gap to 13-12. Following a botched extra point attempt after their first score, Hawks coach Abre Leggins elected to go for two and the potential win. But the Panthers defensive line got good pressure and forced a quick throw that sailed out of the back of the end zone.
Gateway recovered the on-sides kick and was able to run out the clock for the win.
“He pretty much went like I expected,” Panthers Coach Marlin Roberts said. “They brought him (Leggins) in last year and he is a really good football coach that has already started to turn the program around. We knew Collins was a tough running back and I was proud of how we bottled him up after the first quarter. Our defense was outstanding tonight.”
That defense forced two turnovers, had two quarterback sacks and eight other tackles for loss.
“We were good on defense, but our offense did its job too,” Roberts said. “Thigpen just doesn’t go down on first contact and ran so hard tonight.”
Gateway (1-0) travels to Colonial (1-1) next Friday.
